“Th-that voice,” Higgins stammered. “I’d recognize that voice anywhere.“
The cloaked figure slowly pulled down his hood, revealing an infamous hat and long, grey hair from the shadows of his disguise.
Walter gasped at his immediate recognition of this individual. The hooded figure was none other than Krawk Island’s political leader - Governor Gavril McGill.
“Governor McGill?!” the Blumaroo asked incredulously.
“Indeed. ‘Hello’ to ye too, Herelock Jr.! I’ll admit… Ye made it farther than I ever thought ye would, me boy,” the Green Krawk said with a facetious wink.
“B-but… I don’t understand. You were supposed to help give Professor Howto safe passage to explore the Fungus Caves with the other pirates of Krawk Island,” the Mynci said, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Aye, I was… But have I always been known to play fair, Higgins?” the Governor teased with a toothy grin. “Recall me rise to power and ye will find yer answer.”
“Never mind all of this! Where do you think you’re going?” Lady Clara croaked from beside Governor McGill, her rickety arms crossed over her frail chest.
“We’re going to find Horace Howto and you can’t stop us!” Higgins said, grabbing hold of Walter. “Clutch Thyora’s Tear with all your might. It will protect us. Let’s go!”
With that, the Camouflage Mynci and his new Blumaroo counterpart pushed past the Governor and the innkeeper. A radiant blue forcefield emanated from the pair, driving McGill and Clara out of their way by force.
“Now that I know who’s behind this, I know where to find Horace,” Higgins exclaimed as they began a full on sprint.
“Get back here, thieves!” the Elderlygirl Kyrii shouted after them, pulling herself to her feet. Governor McGill and Lady Clara ran to the window to watch as Walter and Higgins made their way through Warf Wharf and towards the Governor’s Mansion.
***
“There is a dungeon rumored to be beneath the Governor’s Mansion. I bet Horace is being kept down there. We just need to find him and release him before that traitorous McGoon makes it home,” Higgins explained as they rushed through the cobblestone streets of Krawk Island.
“Okay. Why do… You think the Governor… Betrayed Horace?” Walter asked, huffing and puffing to catch his breath.
“As someone who destroyed and rebuilt Krawk Island just to gain control of it, I’m sure the last thing he wants is a brainiac snooping through uncharted territories like the Fungus Caves. Besides, that plus the promise of bountiful treasure? I’m sure the greedy Green Krawk couldn’t resist,” asserted Higgins with a disgusted sneer.
“That makes… Sense,” Walter answered. He could see the looming white mansion in the distance with red, clay roof tiles and an ornate wraparound balcony. Knowing what could be inside, the Blumaroo felt unsettled.
“And why would… Lady Clara… Want to… Help… Such an… Evil Neopian?” he continued, heaving harder.
“The inn wasn’t doing well. Even before Horace’s disappearance, The Black Barnacle wasn’t a bustling business. Afterwards… I’m sure she needed a rare and powerful item like Thyoras Tear and an alliance with a Neopian as powerful as Governor McGill to keep her Spyder-filled bed and breakfast afloat.”
Walter’s mind was racing and he couldn’t tell if it was the lack of oxygen flowing to his brain from all the running or his desperate need to mentally categorize and connect all of these clues, but he had to stop to catch his breath.
“Good idea, let’s pause and check the perimeter before we enter!” Higgins whispered. “I’ll check the back. You check the front.”
“Right… Yeah,” the Blumaroo waved to his new sidekick. “Go… Ahead.”
After taking a few moments to collect himself, the pieces were all falling into place. Walter felt deep down in his gut that the answer to all of Herelocke’s questions were in the mansion that towered before him.
“The coast is clear and I found cellar doors! I think they lead to the dungeon. Follow me!” the Camouflage Mynci said, barely detectable in the sunset dusk.
Walter jogged to the back of the mansion, following Higgins and descending the dark stairs into the basement. Torches lit their path overhead, but that certainly didn’t keep the cold out. The Blumaroo shivered as he watched the reflection of the flames dancing upon stagnant puddles on the dungeon’s dirt floor.
To either side of them, the corridor was surrounded by arched, iron prison bars. They were in the right place.!
Suddenly, they heard whimpering up ahead. Wordlessly, they stopped at the cell from which they heard the noise and peered in. In the corner was a feathered Neopet crumpled into a heaving ball, rocking back and forth.
“P-professor Horace?” Higgins choked out. At the sound of another Neopet’s voice, the figure unravelled itself and sprung up, clumsily jolting towards the bars.
“Higgins, is that you?!” the figure cried. It was Horace Howto, but he was in rough shape. His once White Vandagyre feathers were sparse and nearly grey from filth. There were circles under his eyes and pain in his expressions.
“It’s me! It’s me, Horace!” the Camouflage Mynci exclaimed through tears. Walter felt touched by the moment he was witnessing and honored to have helped make it happen.
“H-how did you find me?” Horace asked.
“We don’t have time for that now. We have to get you out of he—“ Higgins began to protest, but was interrupted by a set of footsteps barreling down the hall.
“Not so fast!” Governor McGill boomed. “Give me back Thoyras Tear, ye scalawags!”
“And why would we do that?” Walter asked, gaining courage.
“I will release Sir Howto in exchange for me treasure. I’d say he’s learned his lesson not to meddle in me lands by now. Isn’t that right, bird brain?” the Krawk guffawed.
“We will agree to this exchange on one condition…” Higgins began.
“Aye, I’m listening,” the Governor said, his tone serious as he crossed his talon-ed arms over his chest. McGill knew he didn’t have the upper hand any longer and his gregarious personality wasn’t able to hide that fact in a room full of intelligent Neopians.
“You will give Horace and I what was initially promised: a tour of the Fungus Caves so that we can further our research. And Walter is coming too,” Higgins demanded, emboldened by the shift in power. He smiled at his new Blumaroo friend.
The Governor Krawk looked betwixt the trio before him, the torches and the blue light of Thyoras Tear the only illumination in the dark, mildewy dungeon.
“Aye, I accept… But I must know of any notes taken, any items found, and any discoveries made,” McGill conceded.
Relief washed over Horace Howto’s withered face as the Governor retrieved the large skeleton key from his coat pocket and released the professor from his prison cell. The Vandagyre and Mynci shared a long, tearful embrace.
“Alright, me hearties. That’s enough,” the Krawk said, waving off their affection in revulsion.
With that, a decade long mystery was solved through wit, perseverance, and unwavering loyalty.
As the four of them went upstairs to the mansion’s main floor to discuss their journey ahead, Walter retrieved Herelocke’s journal from his satchel and began to pen his own entry on how he solved the mystery of Horace Howto and the Fungus Caves.
The End.
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